VS Drop SYD - Exit Australia

[erkpod]

Re: VS to stop HKG SYD from 5MAY14

Possibility of VA operating the SYD-HKG section of the route?

Hate to say it but probably zero chance in my opinion in the short term.

Their 777's are committed to Australia - LAX & Australia - AUH. I don't see them removing any of the transcon 330's to the route. I also think it's too long a route for a 737.

 

[markis10]

Re: VS to stop HKG SYD from 5MAY14

Hate to say it but probably zero chance in my opinion in the short term.

Their 777's are committed to Australia - LAX & Australia - AUH. I don't see them removing any of the transcon 330's to the route. I also think it's too long a route for a 737.

VA have spare a330 capacity with their next delivery.

 

[markis10]

Re: VS axes SYD-HKG

Hmm what should I do with my vs miles now? I have quite a few. Should I burn them on hkg to LHR or spend them on partner airlines or transfer to HH? Hmm decisions and I won't be able to travel until at least 2015... Trying to find the best value use out of them...

If its HH then transfer them today, they devalue tomorrow.

 

[maninblack]

Re: VS axes SYD-HKG

Amazed they lasted this long. A single non-alliance service into a distant outpost cannot stack. Their choice it seems was to expand or go.

 

[pauly7]

Flew them a couple of times, my views are well known here! Fairly average hard product, awful food, good service though. Loads the two times I flew them felt very light, but sample of two!

Not bothered that they are quitting Australia except for the less competition factor.

See ya Virgin!

 

[djchuckles]

Virgin Atlantic axing SYD to HKG

Virgin Atlantic axes Sydney-Hong Kong flights - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

Gutted as I've been saving up my Virgin Atlantic miles for an Upper Class return later this yr.

Now I have 200,000 miles which I will struggle to use - what a waste

Wonder if there's any chance I can move them to Velocity!?

 

[eastwest101]

Personally a bit of a bummer - I was hoping to get a VS A340 to either HKG or LHR for the novelty factor of the A346 alone as well as being able to credit to VFF. Even though QFi are being comprehensively owned by CX for Aus-HKG traffic it may give QFi a little breathing room and is one less competitor for the SYD-HKG route.

 

[Clivem]

Re: Virgin Atlantic axing SYD to HKG

Bugger ....................................... So does that mean there is now no VA partner (Velocity umbrella ) with a direct HGK ~ Aust service at all after May 5 ..... is that correct?

Both J and P+ on that VS route did the trick ...... and the reward rate on VS was pretty good also.


With A330's and a better market presence / feed in ......... could VA make that work where VS couldn't ? Thoughts please .......

 

[smit0847]

Re: Virgin Atlantic axing SYD to HKG

There's about 17 different threads with this news now.

 

[AIRwin]

Re: Virgin Atlantic axing SYD to HKG

Now I have 200,000 miles which I will struggle to use - what a waste

Wonder if there's any chance I can move them to Velocity!?

This is one of the FAQs on the VS website:
Important information about our Hong Kong - Sydney service | Virgin Atlantic

[h=3]What would happen to Australian Flying Club members who have a balance of Flying Club miles?[/h]We would encourage our Australian Flying Club members to continue earning and spending Flying Club miles as normal for now. We would then contact those members with a further update, following the final decision on the intention to withdraw our operations.

 

[k3nnis]

Re: VS axes SYD-HKG

Bummer. I don't think I will transfer to HH that soon. Thanks for the tip anyways. Looks like either redeem on VS metal form other ports or partner airlines.

I wonder if AMEX Australia will cease being a MR transfer partner to VS because of this news??

If its HH then transfer them today, they devalue tomorrow.

 

[Timba-Jet]

Re: Virgin Atlantic axing SYD to HKG

Bugger ....................................... So does that mean there is now no VA partner (Velocity umbrella ) with a direct HGK ~ Aust service at all after May 5 ..... is that correct?

Wouldn't it be ironic if VA partnered with CX. NZ did when they pulled out if HKG-LHR, so not out if the realms.

VS seemed to offer good fares to HKG, hope this doesn't give CX and QF reason to lift fares.

On another note, if you had no prior knowledge of QF's use of HKG as a mini-hub to Europe, with NZ and now VS stopping half-way, you would think an opportunity for QF to capitalise.

 

[k3nnis]

Re: Virgin Atlantic axing SYD to HKG

Hmm, does this mean any AU Flying club members with miles left in the account that come a time they will just delete the account and have all miles forfeited? Or can I still keep them and spend them later on? e.g. LHR-JFK etc?

This is one of the FAQs on the VS website:
Important information about our Hong Kong - Sydney service | Virgin Atlantic

What would happen to Australian Flying Club members who have a balance of Flying Club miles?

We would encourage our Australian Flying Club members to continue earning and spending Flying Club miles as normal for now. We would then contact those members with a further update, following the final decision on the intention to withdraw our operations.

 

[JohnK]

Re: Virgin Atlantic axing SYD to HKG

There's about 17 different threads with this news now.

I guess people think the announcement is important.

 

[knasty]

Re: Virgin Atlantic axing SYD to HKG

Hmm, does this mean any AU Flying club members with miles left in the account that come a time they will just delete the account and have all miles forfeited? Or can I still keep them and spend them later on? e.g. LHR-JFK etc?

Depending on what VS propose I may use a UK address for my account to avoid any issues. I am disappointed as there is always significant Upper Class award availability SYD-HKG, but I will still consider using my miles for EY or VS HKG-LHR redemptions.

 

[Clivem]

Re: Virgin Atlantic axing SYD to HKG

Strange the timing of the statement by Judith Crompton (The Australian) ..... On Feb 3 (?) ........ I don't for one minute think it was a case of the Australian just picking Judy's number at random for a filler story - Clearly the VA spin doctors wanted to get some sort of teaser out ........the timing if nothing else is 'interesting' given the VS announcement .........bearing in mind coincidence rarely just 'pop' like this .......

Quote -
"We're now spending the time evaluating what we're actually going to do with that A330, so over the next couple of months we should actually have a decision on that" Crompton told the Australian .
"Because it comes in September, I would probably like to have it in the selling system for wherever we're sending it to over the next couple of months, so we can maximise all of those revenue opportunities."

So just calling on the wealth of knowledge here ...... Post May 5, will there be no direct HKG ~ Aust flights at all that fall under the VA/Velocity umbrella is that the case ? Cheers

 

[k3nnis]

Re: Virgin Atlantic axing SYD to HKG

Hi,

Hmm so we can just go online and change to a UK address? and we should be sweet?

Depending on what VS propose I may use a UK address for my account to avoid any issues. I am disappointed as there is always significant Upper Class award availability SYD-HKG, but I will still consider using my miles for EY or VS HKG-LHR redemptions.

 

[Birdblack]

Re: Virgin Atlantic axing SYD to HKG

How quickly things change Virgin Atlantic weighing up Melbourne flights - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

 

[samh004]

Re: Virgin Atlantic axing SYD to HKG

While I profess no expert knowledge of fuel burn between aircraft, perhaps with a lighter load on the HKG-SYD-HKG sectors, VS wasn't able to make up the difference on the A340. Now, with VA having an A330, the fuel burn would be reduced (2 compared to 4 engines?) and it's also a slightly smaller plane so they don't need to sell as many seats (despite VS seemingly being generous compared to the number of seats they could fit).

But who knows. If they're not taking delivery till September it's still 5 months of limbo with other airlines winning customers over.

 

[JohnK]

Re: Virgin Atlantic axing SYD to HKG

Hmm, does this mean any AU Flying club members with miles left in the account that come a time they will just delete the account and have all miles forfeited? Or can I still keep them and spend them later on? e.g. LHR-JFK etc?

Why do you think they would close AU accounts and you would forfeit your miles?

I am more worried about what to do witb the relatively high miles balance I have and not being able to use before 05 May .